SNP

[Zero Liability]

Not to mention the mansion tax, but I think he may mean the SNP?

[d000hg]

Not to mention the mansion tax, but I think he may mean the SNP?

He said Labour weren't leftist, I talked about left-wing things. Why would he think I meant the SNP?

[TestMangler]

Labour introduced the 50% tax bad, and criticised the Tories for lowering it. They want to remove tax relief on pensions by high earners (to reduce university fees).

Of course Labour want higher taxes.

But you were talking about the SNP, not Labour

[TestMangler]

He said Labour weren't leftist, I talked about left-wing things. Why would he think I meant the SNP?

Because in an earlier post you mentioned the SNPs leftist policies and I asked you to point me at some.

[Zero Liability]

He said Labour weren't leftist, I talked about left-wing things. Why would he think I meant the SNP?

Well he just confirmed it, but also because the quote in question concerned both parties.

[d000hg]

Nope. I never said the SNP were "hard left" or mentioned any of their policies. All I mentioned was that SNP voters would prefer a Labour government to a Tory one.

[Zero Liability]

I think it's quite clear that Miliband is a leftie. Not so sure about Labour as a whole, as it represents quite a disparate spectrum of ideologies, but since Miliband is setting the party's pace these days, that direction of travel is set to change, until he is ousted, should that come to transpire. Hopefully he will be restrained by others in the party; not that Ed Balls, for instance, is much to look forward to, either.

[jamesbrown]

I think the ideal scenario would be a Tory/UKIP pact (maybe the LDs would grovel to be a part of it to remain in power, they're quite flexible anyway.) I'm not yet convinced we'll see a Labour/SNP coalition or even supply and confidence arrangement, as it would become openly transparent that Labour was selling English voters down the river to return to power. It could happen if Ed were that power-hungry, but it would make for an unstable arrangement, and may not be something English voters put up with. Maybe we'll even get our own vote on Scottish independence, i.e. the Scottish ejection vote.

In a hung parliament, it's possible that the Tories may take first shot at forming a Queen's Speech on the basis of a minority gov't w/ confidence and supply, but I highly doubt they'll have the numbers to get it through, based on current polling. The left-leaning parties may not want a coalition w/ Labour, but they are highly unlikely to vote through a Queen's Speech that would lead to a Tory PM, whereas the Lib Dems are basically "for sale", but probably won't have the numbers. I can't really see an outcome that isn't a complete bloody mess, especially given the fixed-term parliament act. If this is the new normal, I suppose it will eventually force through some sort of PR.

[TestMangler]

What's this obsession with the SNP being 'hard left' ? The SNP are FAR more small business friendly than either the tories or labour. As for anyone believing that Labour are 'leftist' is laughable

Nope. I never said the SNP were "hard left" or mentioned any of their policies. All I mentioned was that SNP voters would prefer a Labour government to a Tory one.

OK, cross purposes

Can't agree with your final statement though. I think you misjudge most SNP voters utter hatred of the current Labour party.

[d000hg]

But do they hate Labour for policies or is this just 45 brigade wanting to get revenge? Would SNP rather a Tory government?